Union Territories Merger Explained

The question asks to identify the pair of Union Territories (UTs) that were combined to form a single Union Territory in the year 2020.

Key Merger Details

In 2020, a significant administrative change occurred in India regarding its Union Territories. The UTs of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single entity. This merger officially came into effect on January 26, 2020.

The primary objective behind this consolidation was to improve administrative efficiency, streamline governance, and reduce the overall expenditure by eliminating the need for two separate administrative setups. Having a combined administration allows for better resource allocation and coordinated development planning.

Analysis of Options

Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:

• Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep: These two island territories remain separate Union Territories of India and were not merged in 2020.
• Chandigarh and Puducherry: Chandigarh serves as the capital of Punjab and Haryana and functions as a UT, while Puducherry is another distinct UT. These have not been merged.
• Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: In August 2019, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two separate Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This was a bifurcation, not a merger of existing UTs into one.

Conclusion

Based on the administrative changes implemented in 2020, the merger combined Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu to create one unified Union Territory.